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HVAC & Pipefitter Salary in Erie

Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from UA Local 449, effective June 2024.

The federal wage data on this page covers heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, work that is largely service, maintenance, and residential installation. The union scale shown is journeyman pipefitter, which covers refrigerant, chilled water, and hydronic piping on commercial construction and falls under a different federal occupation code than the wage data above. Duct fabrication and installation is sheet metal work, represented by a separate union called SMART (the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers), and is not reflected in either figure.

How to become an HVAC technician or pipefitter →

Figures come from public sources and may not match the current contract; confirm with the local before making decisions.

UA Local 449 is the union local for pipefitters in Erie. Union apprentices train at its technology center in Harmony, Butler County. Pennsylvania's prevailing wage law applies to public construction.

UA Local 449 journeyman pipefitter Journey-Level Rate

Journey-Level Hourly
$48.15
Effective June 2024

Rate reflects the most recent available Davis-Bacon determination (effective June 2024). Contact the local directly for current negotiated scale.

Base wage: $48.15/hr
Benefit contribution: $29.17/hr
Total package: $77.32/hr
Journey-Level Annual
$100,152
Based on 2,080 hrs / year
vs. BLS Area Median
+$41,162
Union scale vs. all-worker median

Union scale reflects the UA Local 449 journeyman pipefitter journey-level rate from the applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination. The BLS area median reflects all HVAC and refrigeration mechanics across all employment types and experience levels.

Training CenterSteamfitters Local 449 Technology Center
Address230 Wise Road, Harmony, PA 16037
Phone(412) 481-0333
Websiteua449.com
Minimum ScoreNot published

Applying to UA Local 449?

Check with UA Local 449 for its current application requirements, including any aptitude test.

What to expect →

All HVAC and refrigeration mechanics, union and non-union, all experience levels

Median Annual
$58,990
-$2,020 vs. national
Median Hourly
$28.36
vs. Pennsylvania
-$1,509
vs. state average
Total Employed
230
In this area

All HVAC and refrigeration mechanics, union and non-union, all experience levels. Wage figures only, employer-paid benefits, pension contributions, and health and welfare are not included.

Annual Median Wage$58,990
Annual Mean Wage$59,260
Hourly Median Wage$28.36
Hourly Mean Wage$28.49
Total Employed230
Area TypeMetropolitan Area
All pre-apprenticeship options →

Up to six other metros in Pennsylvania, nearest first, then metros in other states within 300 miles. Journey-level rates are sourced from Davis-Bacon wage determinations, state prevailing wage determinations, or, where a local publishes one directly, its own collective bargaining agreement.

Union rates in every metro we cover →

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 49-9021). How we build these figures →